History of Western Art – Prehistoric to Gothic Mrs. Atherton, Art 13, basement, by apt. only 310-660-3542  -  press 2 to leave a message Main Objective:  View Art According to the  Values and Functions  of the era--according to the technology of the era. Art 2
Student Information Please write the following information about your- self, to help me get to know you. Name Major and Semester at El Camino Reason taking the class Telephone or email address Any other Art or Art History classes Anticipated strengths and Weaknesses in the class
Art 2 Course Objectives
Major Goals and Objectives To view and study the art according to the  functions and values  of the era, according to the technology of the era. To learn to see more carefully, to see  differences in art and architectural styles and  changes or developments.
To understand how these stylistic changes and developments relate to the religious, socio-political or technological factors within that culture. To be able to write about and describe some of the major changes of style or function with in these cultures.
Art 2 Goals (Continued) To learn and understand new vocabulary relating to the art and architecture of the time. To be able to identify the major archaeological sites of these eras, and to identify art from the major cultures we study.
To expand your world view to cultures beyond the Western Heritage and beyond the norm of your expectations.
To understand and appreciate the richness of “man’s” artistic heritage and overall accomplish-ments. Centaur and Dragon, Westminster Abbey, London, (Gothic)
Functions of Art What are some functions for art? Why do we make art?
Functions of Art Commemoration feels the need to preserve his traditions, folklore, a part of himself Utilitarian – architecture, jewelry, etc. Preservation transmission of beliefs, knowledge and symbolism Ritual / Spiritual  - Expression
Communication  - power of the visual image to sway one’s thinking, or to enhance the ritual or communication  with another life force. O ccurs on several levels :   man with himself, with the  animals and nature, and with a supreme power or  god.     Universal Themes of Art/ Functions of Art
Functions of Art (continued) Communication  -  Uses Art to aid in communicating- With one self – Expressionism With another person With one’s ancestors With God, or the gods With Nature -  Animism As an aid to ritual or devotion
Ritual Functions of Art: This wood-carved antelope with the baby on its back was made by the Bambara tribe in Mali. It is used as part of a ritual to promote good crops. The dancer wears this as a headdress since it is attached to a wicker basket at the bottom.
The Bambara Antelope Ritual At the left are two dancers participating in the agricultural ceremony of the Bambara. The far left is a representation of the male antelope and on the right is the female with the baby.
Bakota Guardian Figure Ritual Carvings such as the one  on the left were used in a  ritual for burial.  The Bakota tribe of the Gabon in Africa create these as guardian figures for the graves of their ancestors.  Below the torso, a wicker basket would be attached to hold the bones of the ancestor.
Spiritual and Expression  -  St. Lazare Church, Autun In this Romanesque sculpture carved by Gislebertus, he uses his own individualized manner of representing Eve picking the apple and the first sin.  The elongated, reclining Eve are his unique expression.
Spiritual  The Gothic Cathedrals. A Stain  glass window from  Chartres Cathedral
Functions of Art (cont.) Utilitarian  - man feels need to combine art with everyday objects--sometimes for embellishment for pride, for commercial  interests, for art for “art’sake”, sometimes to fully absorb his life. Commemoration  -to commemorate an individual, a  country, a country’s triumphs, rarely it’s losses  
Transmission  -feels the need to transmit the  knowledge  of his latest skills, technology,  philosophy, or religious beliefs, etc.--a vast  range of information and data,  uses art to  preserve and celebrate his age. Preservation  -feels the need to  preserve:   his  tradition  , his folklore, legends,  his unique  heritage  -feels the need to preserve his  immortality --to leave a part of  himself  and his  culture  on this earth
Spiritual /Transmission of Knowledge and Symbolism   An Early Christian Sarcophagus (left) and a catacomb painting
Ritual /Communication   Cave in Chaco Canyon, near Pueblo Bonito, New Mex.
Chaco Canyon, New Mex.  The Supernova Pictograph  This pictograph (painting on stone) was made by the Anasazi culture to record an important event which occurred in  the year1054, when a supernova star exploded near a crescent moon.
Preservation  –   Egyptian Papyrus of Last Judgment  Many cultures use art to preserve their heritage & rituals. They differ from our time in not wishing to record in writing these sacred concepts but pass them on through the art.
Details of the Last Judgment Papyrus Weighing the heart against the feather of the goddess Mut . The devourer of the condemned.  He is part crocodile, part lion and hippo. A scribe records the results in the book of life.
Preservation  –  Temple of Zeus, Olympia The myths of Herakles were preserved through Greek art. Here we see him ready to receive the world from Atlas and Athena.
Commemoration -  Altar of Peace of Augustus, Rome Augustus, the first Emperor, ruled from 27 BC to 14 AD.  It was the longest period of peace in Roman history, so he commissioned this Altar to commemorate his reign.
Utilitarian/Decorative Egyptian King Tutankamun’s bracelet. It is decorative, but also holds ritual meaning as we see the “Scarab” on top done in lapis lazuli, which insures the King re-birth in the after life.
Religious/spiritual   - often relies on symbolism,  often interwoven with the next factor of  communication.   Communication  - power of the visual image to sway one’s  thinking, or to enhance the ritual or communication  with another life force  -  communication occurs on  several levels :  man with  himself, with the animals  and nature, and with a  supreme power or god.     Summary  Universal Themes of Art/ Functions of Art
Utilitarian  - man feels need to combine art with everyday objects--sometimes for embellishment for pride, for commercial interests, for art for “art’sake”, sometimes to fully absorb his life. Commemoration  -to commemorate an individual, a  country, a country’s triumphs, rarely it’s losses
Transmission  - feels the need to transmit  the  knowledge  of his latest skills,  technology, philosophy, etc.--a vast  range of information and data, uses  art to  celebrate  his age. Preservation  -feels the need to  preserve:   his  tradition  , his folklore, legends,  his unique  heritage  -feels the need to preserve his  immortality --to leave a part of  himself  and his  culture  on this earth
What do you think is the most important  function for art? Answer on the Discussion Board  under Prehistoric and Tribal

Art 2 Objectives and Functions of Art

  • 1.
    History of WesternArt – Prehistoric to Gothic Mrs. Atherton, Art 13, basement, by apt. only 310-660-3542 - press 2 to leave a message Main Objective: View Art According to the Values and Functions of the era--according to the technology of the era. Art 2
  • 2.
    Student Information Pleasewrite the following information about your- self, to help me get to know you. Name Major and Semester at El Camino Reason taking the class Telephone or email address Any other Art or Art History classes Anticipated strengths and Weaknesses in the class
  • 3.
    Art 2 CourseObjectives
  • 4.
    Major Goals andObjectives To view and study the art according to the functions and values of the era, according to the technology of the era. To learn to see more carefully, to see differences in art and architectural styles and changes or developments.
  • 5.
    To understand howthese stylistic changes and developments relate to the religious, socio-political or technological factors within that culture. To be able to write about and describe some of the major changes of style or function with in these cultures.
  • 6.
    Art 2 Goals(Continued) To learn and understand new vocabulary relating to the art and architecture of the time. To be able to identify the major archaeological sites of these eras, and to identify art from the major cultures we study.
  • 7.
    To expand yourworld view to cultures beyond the Western Heritage and beyond the norm of your expectations.
  • 8.
    To understand andappreciate the richness of “man’s” artistic heritage and overall accomplish-ments. Centaur and Dragon, Westminster Abbey, London, (Gothic)
  • 9.
    Functions of ArtWhat are some functions for art? Why do we make art?
  • 10.
    Functions of ArtCommemoration feels the need to preserve his traditions, folklore, a part of himself Utilitarian – architecture, jewelry, etc. Preservation transmission of beliefs, knowledge and symbolism Ritual / Spiritual - Expression
  • 11.
    Communication -power of the visual image to sway one’s thinking, or to enhance the ritual or communication with another life force. O ccurs on several levels : man with himself, with the animals and nature, and with a supreme power or god.     Universal Themes of Art/ Functions of Art
  • 12.
    Functions of Art(continued) Communication - Uses Art to aid in communicating- With one self – Expressionism With another person With one’s ancestors With God, or the gods With Nature - Animism As an aid to ritual or devotion
  • 13.
    Ritual Functions ofArt: This wood-carved antelope with the baby on its back was made by the Bambara tribe in Mali. It is used as part of a ritual to promote good crops. The dancer wears this as a headdress since it is attached to a wicker basket at the bottom.
  • 14.
    The Bambara AntelopeRitual At the left are two dancers participating in the agricultural ceremony of the Bambara. The far left is a representation of the male antelope and on the right is the female with the baby.
  • 15.
    Bakota Guardian FigureRitual Carvings such as the one on the left were used in a ritual for burial. The Bakota tribe of the Gabon in Africa create these as guardian figures for the graves of their ancestors. Below the torso, a wicker basket would be attached to hold the bones of the ancestor.
  • 16.
    Spiritual and Expression - St. Lazare Church, Autun In this Romanesque sculpture carved by Gislebertus, he uses his own individualized manner of representing Eve picking the apple and the first sin. The elongated, reclining Eve are his unique expression.
  • 17.
    Spiritual TheGothic Cathedrals. A Stain glass window from Chartres Cathedral
  • 18.
    Functions of Art(cont.) Utilitarian - man feels need to combine art with everyday objects--sometimes for embellishment for pride, for commercial interests, for art for “art’sake”, sometimes to fully absorb his life. Commemoration -to commemorate an individual, a country, a country’s triumphs, rarely it’s losses  
  • 19.
    Transmission -feelsthe need to transmit the knowledge of his latest skills, technology, philosophy, or religious beliefs, etc.--a vast range of information and data, uses art to preserve and celebrate his age. Preservation -feels the need to preserve: his tradition , his folklore, legends, his unique heritage -feels the need to preserve his immortality --to leave a part of himself and his culture on this earth
  • 20.
    Spiritual /Transmission ofKnowledge and Symbolism An Early Christian Sarcophagus (left) and a catacomb painting
  • 21.
    Ritual /Communication Cave in Chaco Canyon, near Pueblo Bonito, New Mex.
  • 22.
    Chaco Canyon, NewMex. The Supernova Pictograph This pictograph (painting on stone) was made by the Anasazi culture to record an important event which occurred in the year1054, when a supernova star exploded near a crescent moon.
  • 23.
    Preservation – Egyptian Papyrus of Last Judgment Many cultures use art to preserve their heritage & rituals. They differ from our time in not wishing to record in writing these sacred concepts but pass them on through the art.
  • 24.
    Details of theLast Judgment Papyrus Weighing the heart against the feather of the goddess Mut . The devourer of the condemned. He is part crocodile, part lion and hippo. A scribe records the results in the book of life.
  • 25.
    Preservation – Temple of Zeus, Olympia The myths of Herakles were preserved through Greek art. Here we see him ready to receive the world from Atlas and Athena.
  • 26.
    Commemoration - Altar of Peace of Augustus, Rome Augustus, the first Emperor, ruled from 27 BC to 14 AD. It was the longest period of peace in Roman history, so he commissioned this Altar to commemorate his reign.
  • 27.
    Utilitarian/Decorative Egyptian KingTutankamun’s bracelet. It is decorative, but also holds ritual meaning as we see the “Scarab” on top done in lapis lazuli, which insures the King re-birth in the after life.
  • 28.
    Religious/spiritual - often relies on symbolism, often interwoven with the next factor of communication.   Communication - power of the visual image to sway one’s thinking, or to enhance the ritual or communication with another life force  - communication occurs on several levels : man with himself, with the animals and nature, and with a supreme power or god.     Summary Universal Themes of Art/ Functions of Art
  • 29.
    Utilitarian -man feels need to combine art with everyday objects--sometimes for embellishment for pride, for commercial interests, for art for “art’sake”, sometimes to fully absorb his life. Commemoration -to commemorate an individual, a country, a country’s triumphs, rarely it’s losses
  • 30.
    Transmission -feels the need to transmit the knowledge of his latest skills, technology, philosophy, etc.--a vast range of information and data, uses art to celebrate his age. Preservation -feels the need to preserve: his tradition , his folklore, legends, his unique heritage -feels the need to preserve his immortality --to leave a part of himself and his culture on this earth
  • 31.
    What do youthink is the most important function for art? Answer on the Discussion Board under Prehistoric and Tribal